Views on unlawful water abstractions along the Liebenbergsvlei River, South Africa

Abstract:

As a result of the growing demand for additional water supplies, officials at the National
Department of Water Affairs (DWA) continually monitor consumption patterns. The
unlawful abstraction of water for irrigation purposes along the Axle and Liebenbergsvlei
water transfer scheme, a South African river catchment, has been identified as a potential
over-consumption hotspot. An investigation into the evolution of modern farming and
irrigation developments along this important water transfer scheme found that restrictions
on irrigation water abstraction have primarily focused on the water security of downstream
urban and industrial users who receive water at a high assurance of supply. During periods
of normal rainfall the authorities paid little attention to the existing use of water from the
Liebenbergsvlei water transfer scheme. Subsequent restrictions placed on local water
abstraction for irrigation has achieved mixed results. This paper focuses on the perspectives
of irrigation farmers who may be unlawfully using water from the transfer scheme. Their
views are compared with those expressed by the authorities on this issue, and the way in
which the authorities attempt to regulate water use in the region within the confines of
existing legislation. The responses from the different sectors were qualitatively analysed and
suggested solutions have been formulated for further discussion.
The study’s major findings reveal that the contestation around water use for agricultural
purposes will continue as long as the misunderstandings surrounding legal or illegal water
use persist. As demand on water is escalating, it is considered important to put in place water
security measures designed to safeguard the available water in light of scarcity.